Lost luggage inspires collaborative art exhibition

Suitcases and bags abandoned by travellers are creatively
repurposed by Middlesex University students as part of a thought-provoking
exhibition combining fine art, interior architecture, animation, video and
visual storytelling.

In a major project for Middlesex’s School of Art and Design,
students from a range of creative disciplines came together to create artworks
from objects found in abandoned and forgotten suitcases acquired from Heathrow
Airport.

Students were placed in teams, and each team given a
suitcase or bag to use as the basis of their work. They were given four days to
reflect, interpret and transform the contents of their luggage – which included
an army uniform, teddy bear book ends and even a baseball bat – for display in
the University’s Grove atrium.

“Students were asked to think about who the people that the
items belonged to were and what the objects they left behind meant to them. The
contents of the lost luggage inspired the groups to work together and
communities have evolved over the creative artwork,” said Osbert Parker,
Lecturer in Stop-Motion Animation at Middlesex, who masterminded the project.

“This is the first time Middlesex University has created a
collective project across all schools and departments in this way, and I’m very
pleased with the results. It’s important for artists to talk and collaborate to
find new ways of art and new ways of moving forwards to find something new.

“I’ve been thinking about creating Lost Luggage as a
large-scale project for three years. The result is an exciting combination of
artists from different disciplines and year groups exchanging ideas and making
work outside their comfort zones.”

Students combined multiple approaches and different types of
media to create a challenging, provocative series of interactive pieces.

The exhibition was made even more impressive by its setting;
a replica airport baggage reclaim area, complete with departures board and
genuine Heathrow Airport signage, was set up to complete the experience.

“It was an interesting project to work on and fascinating to
see how each group reacted to create different outcomes,” said Daniel Quirke,
second year BA Animation student.

“Everyone
knuckled down and managed to make pieces we wouldn’t be able to make within our
own department,” said Louise Fogerty, also a second year Animation student.

“It
was challenging at the start to come up with the right idea but everything came
together and everyone contributed something valuable.”